Methyl (4-bromophenyl)acetate (2.79 g, 12.2 mmol), tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (0) (170 mg), potassium phosphate (9.71 g, 45.75 mmol) and dimethoxyethane (50 ml) were degassed under nitrogen in a 100 ml flask fitted with a reflux condenser. 2-Hydroxybenzene boronic acid (2.52 g, 18.3 mmol) in dimethoxyethane (5 ml) was added and the mixture was heated at reflux overnight then mixed with 1:1 saturated sodium chloride/ethyl acetate (25 ml). The organic materials were separated, dried (MgSO4), then concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (SiO2, gradient hexane to 3:1 hexane/ethyl acetate) which provided 2.21 g (75%) of methyl (4-(2-hydroxyphenyl)phenyl)acetate.
